The Banter Brief: Trump Has The Rona

It was only a matter of time.

Welcome to this week’s mega edition of The Banter Brief!!

(image via Fox)

1. Most Important Story Of The Week

Trump and Melania test positive for Coronavirus

The news that president Trump and his wife Melania tested positive for Coronavirus sent shockwaves around the world last night. It was reported earlier this week that Trump was in contact with senior advisor Hope Hicks, who tested positive for the virus leading to speculation about the president’s health. Reported the NYTimes:

The president, who said early Friday morning that he had tested positive for the virus, has had what one person described as coldlike symptoms. At a fund-raiser he attended at his golf club at Bedminster, N.J., on Thursday, where one attendee said the president came in contact with about 100 people, he seemed lethargic.

A person briefed on the matter said that Mr. Trump fell asleep at one point on Air Force One on the way back from a rally in Minnesota on Wednesday night.

A White House official said that as of Thursday night, the president’s treatment plan was still being discussed.

It is worth noting that Trump is in a very high risk category for a number of reasons. Reported CNN:

He is in a high-risk group simply by virtue of his age -- he is 74 -- and his weight. Trump is clinically obese, and obesity is a risk factor for a more severe form of the illness.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people in the 65-74 age range face a five times greater risk of hospitalization and a 90 times greater risk of death from Covid-19 compared to young adults between the ages of 18-29. Based on his physical in April, CNN reported in June that President Trump weighed 244 pounds and is 6 feet 3 inches tall. That gives him a body mass index of 30.5, making him technically, if mildly, obese. Obesity triples the risk of hospitalization from Covid-19, according to the CDC.

Trump is also a male, and men are more likely to die or suffer severe illness from coronavirus than women, the leading health agency reported.

After spending seven months downplaying the risk of Coronavirus, holding large rallies, dismissing the need to wear a mask, and claiming it was a “Chinese hoax”, it is hard to muster a lot of sympathy for the president. Over 200,000 Americans have died due to his extraordinary mismanagement of the pandemic, and his infection represents a poetic justice of sorts. That being said, Coronavirus is a truly horrible disease and one hopes Trump and his wife make a full recovery.

2. Poll Analysis

Not good news for the president. In Five Thirty Eight’s simulation, Trump’s chances of winning re-election are dwindling by the week:

Furthermore, the Senate is now well within reach for the Democrats:

3. Quote Of The Week

“COVID-19 is not a morality test. It afflicts the careful as well as the heedless. Some of its victims have jobs that inherently expose them to risk. Biden has taken every precaution, but might contract the virus because he was exposed to Trump, who hasn’t. And nobody, however heedless they may be to the safety of themselves or others, deserves to suffer.

But as coronavirus victims go, Donald Trump is as far from innocent as you can get. He and his supporters may wish to treat his positive test as a national tragedy for which we can express no thought other than a prayer for his recovery, a kind of mini-9/11. The truth is that Trump is deeply culpable not only for the national response to the pandemic but his own condition.”

- Jonathan Chait on Trump living his own Coronavirus mismanagement strategy

4. What to Watch

What: Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father

Why: A delightful travel documentary featuring the brilliant British comedian Jack Whitehall and his father Michael Whitehall. As they travel through Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, the United States and Australia, Jack and his 78 year old father explore global culture while managing their mildly dysfunctional but always hilarious relationship. The series does feel a little scripted at times, but the father and son duo more than make up for it with their brilliant comic timing and unfiltered bickering. More than that, the tender bond between them makes the show immensely likable and a welcome break from the relentless news cycle. Space out the seasons for maximum enjoyment.

Where: Netflix

5. Good News

Coronavirus vaccine side effects are tolerable, say participants

Candidates in the leading vaccine trials have spoken out about the symptoms they experienced, and despite being pretty uncomfortable for (high fever, body aches, headaches and exhaustion), all recovered quickly and were able to go home without further complications. From CNBC:

In interviews, all five participants — three in Moderna’s study and two in Pfizer’s late-stage trials  — said they think the discomfort is worth it to protect themselves against the coronavirus. Four of them asked not to be identified, but CNBC reviewed documentation that verified their participation in the trials.

While the symptoms were uncomfortable, and at times intense, they often went away after a day, sometimes sooner, according to three participants in the Moderna trial and one in Pfizer’s as well as a person close to another participant in Moderna’s trial.

Obviously the sample size here is too small to be considered evidence that the vaccines are safe, but it gives useful insight into what we can expect when/if they are proven safe and effective for public use. No one likes getting vaccinated of course, but given the stakes the payoff is likely to be worth it.

Have a great weekend!

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